End-gate latch



END GATE LATCH Filed March 12. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 11, 1925.1,548,907

W. F. E. SCHWEHM END GATE LATCH Filed March 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2dii atented Aug. l1, 1925.

UNITED VSTATES WILLIE F. ESCHWEIM, OF MANKATO, MINNESOTA.

ENID-earn LATCH.

Application led March 12, 1923. Serial Nc. 624,412.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIE F.4 E.. Sonwicnu, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Mankato, in the county of Blue Earth and StateofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End-GateLatches, of which .the following is a specification. l

The main purpose of my invention is the provision of an end gate latchthat is a substantial improvement over similar devices, with which 1 amnow familiar, my invention being characterized by its simplicity ofconstruction, ease of application, and one purposes other than as alatch for end gates, such as barn door latches and the like.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detailed. description is read in"con nection with theaccompanyingdrawings, the invention residing in the construction,combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

ln the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views, and whereinFigure l-is an end elevational view of a wagon box, showing the end gatethereof equipped with in v improved latch.

Figure 2-is a detail section upon the-line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3-is a fragmentary side elevation of the said wagon box, moreclearly disclosing the bolt keeper plate forming the component part ofmy invention.

Figure 4-is a perspective' of the bolt keeper plate.

Figure 5 -is a perspective of the sliding bolt.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figures 1 and2, there is shown a wagon .box designated at 5, with which is associateda removable end gate 6. As shown, the end gate comprises a lurality oflongitudinal spaced slats secure at their opposite ends to the verticalposts 7. l

1t is desirable that these wagon boxes be equipped with a pair oflatches upon opposite sides of the end, gate, as sho-wn in Figure 1,each of the same being of an exactly similar construction, a descriptionof one therefore suflicing for both. l'

My improved end gate latch comprises a bracket plate 8 secured throughthe instruthat is well adapted to be used for l mentalit of bolt,fasteners 9 to the end gate 6, the en s of this bracket plate beingformed with forwardly projecting ears 10. Rectilinearly movable withinthe said openings orv the cars 1() is a relatively elongated latch bolt11, one end of the same being provided with a removable handle 12,whilst the opposite end is formed with a right angularly extending heador lug 13. The end of the the standard being formed at one sideof the'opening with a pocket 19, for the purpose of receiving the head or lug13 of the bolt, when the same is forced rearwardly by the said spring17. As a means for limiting the outward rectilinear movement of thebolt. there is provided upon the screw threaded portion 15 'of the saidbolt enlargement 11, a pair of binding nuts 20, the same having face toface' contact with the standard 7 lat the outward limit of movement ofsaid bolt. t

In conjunction with the elements just described, there is provided abolt keeper plate more clearly shown in Figure 4, this keeper platebeing bolt-ed at the points 22 to certain of the parts included in thewagon box structure. c f

r1`he front end of this keeper plate 21 is in face to face contact withthe standard 7 the same being provided .or formed with a key slot 23,Jfor permitting the headed or lugged end of the bolt 11 to passtherethrough, when the bolt is slid forwardly, through theinstrumentality of the handle l2.

This slotted end of the keeper plate 21 is formed with a vertical groove25, directly above t-he larger end of the key slot 23, the same adaptedfor receiving the adjacent edge of the said head 13', forpreventing acasual turning movement of the rod, and a consequent retraction of, thesame from the keeper plate, through the instrumentality of a spring 17.

In view of the above description, it will l at once be apparent that byraising upwardslot in the different keeper plates, the handle being thenturned downwardly for engaging the edge of the head or lug within thenotch of the lzeeper plate, .which will effectively maintain the saidlatch bolt in its latched position.

Although I have herein shown and described the preferredembodiment ofthe present invention, it is`neverthe1ess to be understood that minorchanges may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent is An yend gate latch comprising a flexiblestrip having an end portion adapted to be disposed adjacent the path ofmovement of the end edge of the gate, the end portion of the strip beingtwisted laterally, a bolt carried by the gate and having at its end alaterally disposed lug, the said bolt adapted to move along 'the twistedportion of the strip as the gate moves with relation to the strip, vthetwisted portion of the strip being provlded with a key hole slot locatedbelow the twist of the end portion of the strip, and the said twistedportion of the strip bein provided, at'its outer surface with a lnotcwhich is radially disposed with respect to the larger end of the keyhole slot,

thesaid bolt being adapted to be projected through the slot and turned,whereby the lug of the bolt may be engaged in the notch, and means fordrawing the lug of the bolt in close contact with the wall surface otthe notch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

'WILLIE F. E. SCHVVEIM.

